The Flywheel

PROGRAM FOR DECEMBER 15th

Holiday Auction
Great products and services, an unmatched sense of camaradarie,
and a terrific opportunity to build the Club's treasury
so it can continue making a positive difference in
the world. And isn't that why you joined Rotary?
Who will take home the infamous bottle of muscatel? See you there.

Meeting of December 8th, 2006

Welcome, Invocation, Thought for the Day

Prez George
brought the meeting to order and asked Bud Martin to
lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Stoney led a Moment of
Silence for freedom, justice and peace on earth. Prez
Elect Pam Jones provided the Thought for the Day, which
went unrecorded by your late arriving scribe.

Visiting Rotarians

Jim Brandt was in attendance from the Alamo Club.

Rotarians with Guests

Announcements

Jim Beaver provided a preview of
next week’s Annual Fundraiser, the Holiday Auction.
Some exciting items are on the list. Bring your friends,
colleagues, lovers, ex-lovers – anyone with a
generous spirit and a checkbook. In recent years, the
Club has raised over $20,000 at this event, and
the money raised has been used to support important
Rotary projects, both internationally and in our local
community.

Leslie Levy provided a reminder
on next week’s effort to assist the Child Crisis
Center Nursery in Concord. This is the only such center
in Contra Costa County. Club members are asked to bring
items to the Auction Meeting using Leslie’s list – to
be emailed out separately.

Joe Bagley is coordinating this
year’s assistance to the Richmond Salvation Army
fundraising effort. See Joe if you didn’t get
a chance to sign-up on the circulated list for Bell
Ringing at Albertson’s in Pinole on Saturday.

Prez George had a nice thank you to Margaret
Morkowski for her supreme efforts organizing
the Holiday Party at the Richmond Country Club. The
party was a great success – thanks Margaret.

Happy and Sad Dollars

Sid had happy dollars just because
he enjoys the power of being the Sargent-at-Arms. Herb
had sad dollars for the USC loss to UCLA. Sid then found
more dollars for turning 68, and happy ones for his wedding
anniversary next week. Josh Genser put in $5 to celebrate
winning a bet on the USC game. Judy
Kafka was happy to
be back at a meeting and confident it would be a happy
New Year for all – not just the Democrats. David
Brown was happy that he finally completed his legal education.
Prez Elect/Elect Mark Howe noted that Richmond beat out
the El Cerrito Club in the last couple dancing marathon
at the Holiday Party. Rhonda Harris had some happy dollars
for her birthday. Jan Brown reminded all that CAL actually
did win last weekend. Margaret Morkowski opened her pocket
book to recognize the upcoming home hosting program with
the Russian business teams. Which motivated Treasurer
David to add some thoughts about his good experiences
with Russian guests, and David K to tell the story of
the naked Russian dentist that suddenly dove off David’s
sailboat during an Angel Island cruise. Jon was delighted
that Judy K was back after her difficult times. Leslie
Levy provided $ with her announcement about the Concord
Child Crisis Center Nursery.

Raffle Results

Lucky Don Hardison won
the chance, but the pot of money is safe for another day.

The Program

Ghanda 2006

Jon Lawlis and Herb
Cole presented a program about their November 2006 participation
in the integrated immunization program in Ghana. This
was part of a world-wide effort funded by the World Health
Organization, UNICEF and Rotary International to provide
polio and measle immunizations, mosquito netting and
Vitamin A supplements. Jon and Alyssa and Herb and Norma
participated in Ghana with 97 other U.S. Rotarians. Other
participants from Europe brought the total Rotarian group
to 150.

Activities
started in Ghana with a two day West Africa Projects
Fair, followed by the National Immunization Days on November
2 and 3. During these two days, 26,000 volunteers worked
in 9,600 teams throughout the country. About 6 million
children 5 years and under were immunized and 2.1 million
bed nets were distributed to mothers with children under
2 years old. This campaign was funded for $16.6 million
campaign in Ghana alone.

Powering
through audio-visual complexities that would confound
even Silicon Valley experts, Jon and Herb presented great
pictures of Amsterdam, Ghana and Rotary International
activities. This was an educational and entertaining
program that highlighted the important work of Rotary
International and the Rotary commitment of two of our
recent club presidents.

-Semper Paratus

Host or sponsor members of the delegation of Russian
architects, from
Feb. 22nd to March 17th. Learn
more.